“Bill had the chance to go to the Day Hospice once a week. At first he was not entirely convinced that this was for him, but as the weeks went by he decided he would give it a try. Thankfully, he loved it and went every week when well enough.”Linda Owen, wife of a hospice patient

Modernisation of our Inpatient Unit

The present Hospice was built in 1997 and after 21 years while our care remains of the same high standard our Inpatient Unit (IPU) is in need of modernisation.

There are over 250 admissions to the IPU each year of patients
with life-limiting illnesses in order that nursing staff and
doctors can manage pain and symptoms, give emotional support or
provide care at the end of life. The hospice also cares for around
800 people in the community every year as well as those people
important to our patients.

A refurbishment project began in January 2017 to make the IPU a
more comfortable and therapeutic place for all patients and
visitors. At the same time we are incorporating changes which will
aid patients and visitors with dementia.

Hospice staff are seeing increasing numbers of patients and
visitors with dementia. By acting now we can meet the challenge of
caring for an increasing number of patients who suffer from both
dementia and a second life-limiting illness.

Our schedule of works
We finished work on phase 1 of the redesign in 2016. This has
created an improved reception area; a new cafe for patients,
visitors and volunteers; a new dedicated entrance to the IPU and
improved overnight stay facilities for visitors.

Work began on the IPU in January 2017 after several years of
planning. The work will is due to finish in May 2018 and will
include the following:

Modernisation of every patient bedroom on the 16-bed IPU which
includes new heating, lighting, decor, patio doors, windows and
furnishings*

An extension which will relocate four of the existing bedrooms
and will create a new nurses reception area and office as well as
an equipment store and clinic room

A second overnight stay room to allow more families to
comfortably stay with loved ones

Improvements throughout the IPU which adhere to
dementia-friendly principles

Better lighting, colour-coding and clear signage to help with
navigation

New artwork showing local scenes from around Wigan and Leigh as
conversation points and to stimulate reminiscence

Transformation of one bedroom into a bariatric bedroom with
additional specialist bathroom

New furnishings throughout the public seating areas on the IPU
and in the lounge areas

Upgrades to bathrooms and W/Cs used by patients and
visitors

In order to ensure that the Hospice can continue to operate at
full capacity during the project, the work is being carried out
using a phased approach working on four bedrooms at a time with
additional temporary bedrooms being brought into use which are
furnished to the same high standards as the current bedrooms.

Rebekah Ashley, IPU Manager, said: "The staff are really excited
and looking forward to seeing the project completed. The Inpatient
Unit didn't look bad but it was beginning to look outdated and
tired.

"The changes are already making it brighter and the sign-posting
and colour-coding of bedroom bays will make it much easier for
patients and visitors to get around. Beforehand, it was quite easy
to get lost around the Inpatient Unit and patients found it
difficult sometimes to identify their own room as each bay of
bedrooms looked exactly the same. The improved Inpatient Unit will
be a relaxing and therapeutic environment conducive to the
individual needs of our patients and those important to them.

"Our patients deserve dignity, comfort and care and the changes
we are making will ensure they continue to receive safe and
supportive care for years to come."

Please see our Facebook page for updates and photos on the
project. Simply search 'wiganandleighhospice'